I couldn't resist posting these recent pictures of my two cuties. We finally got a picture of Riley's smile. He is smiling a lot now. Kenzee needs to stop looking like a teenager. I have more posts to come, all about poop, pee, and breast milk. You know you're excited. :)

One Month Pictures

How Sweet it is...

When both your babies sleep at the same time

I faced my fear today

That's right, potatoes, but not just any potatoes, only potatoes with eyes. It was difficult. The phobia goes way back. My family thinks it's funny. It's not....it's real. Once, when I was probably 15 or 16, I was in my room one afternoon and I laid down on my bed. I felt something weird under my pillow and when I looked to see what it was I found a potato looking very much like this one...

My mom had hid it there while I was at school so she could crack herself up. She probably had been laughing about it all day just waiting for me. She loves to laugh.

Not cool.

I still haven't forgiven her, obviously.

So, today I wanted to make a special dinner for Chris. I haven't been cooking much lately. I am making a turkey tenderloin, but doing it up like a roast, at the suggestion of my mother....the sneaky one. I had everything I needed, but my potatoes had eyes. I wasn't sure if I could do it. Normally, if I need to cook with potatoes and they have eyes I just leave that part of dinner until Chris gets home and he deals with it or I choose something else, but today I really wanted to have everything ready when he got there, so I forged ahead. I considered gloves, but ended up going at it bare-handed. I managed to get all the eyes off and only grazed two of them with my finger.

Go me! I'll let you know how my dinner turns out.

Random things about me and other stuff.

1. My day goes a lot better if I get up and take a shower first thing in the morning.
2. Boys can pee far....and I mean far. Their diapers are MUCH harder to change than girl diapers. The stuff gets in the way.
3. I am not that into accessories.
4. I don't like chocolate candy, but I do like brownies.
5. I have learned that you have to have just enought mean-ness in you that people take you seriously when you are nice.
6. Everyone needs a little time to themselves.
7. I enjoy breastfeeding even though I never thought I would be a breastfeeder. I had always just planned to pump because the thought of breastfeeding to me was weird. That being said, I cried when I quit breastfeeding Mckenzee just after she turned one. Kudos to all you pumpers, because to me that is WAY harder.
8. Breastfeeding also makes me feel trapped sometimes.
9. I love to be in the mountains.
10. I love to go camping.
11. I don't know if I want anymore kids and sometimes it drives me crazy to not know.
12. I am a planner.
13. I wish I read my Bible more.
14. I think it's a bit unfair that after carrying a baby for nine months, delivering a baby, and feeding a baby that you end up with stretch marks, a pooch, a scar and saggy boobies. You deserve to look like a model after all that work.....but when you look at your kids it's really not that big of a deal.
15. Just because you didn't get stretch marks with your first baby doesn't mean you are in the clear for round two.
16. My body is not going back as quickly either.
17. I like to get dressed up sometimes and go out on fancy dates.
18. I also like to wear camo and play paintball...and I'm good at it.
19. I like buying hairbows....a lot.
20. I like four-wheelers.
21. I don't watch scary movies.
22. I have social anxiety. The idea of being a hermit appeals to me. I get really hot in social situations, so hot that sometimes by back will be soaking wet. My cheeks get really pink. Sometimes I feel sick on the way to the event. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I bail out all together.
23. I was a social butterfly in high school.
24. I always wanted to be just like my mom. I'm still trying.
25. The other night I was carrying Riley and following Mckenzee around, at her request, pulling a ladybug toy. It brought tears to my eyes because I thought that this was the life I always wanted and I am so thankful for it and I feel so blessed.
26. I enjoy balancing the checkbook, paying bills, and budget projecting, even though that is the one responsibility I said I didn't want when we got married.
27. I love being romanced. I can still say that after 13 years of being together I still feel like I can't stand up when Chris kisses me. He is a good kisser.
28. I can't stand clutter. I like organization. That doesn't mean I'm always organized.
29. I can't keep a clean car. I've never been able to. It's not because of kids, it's just me.
30. I love to fix Mckenzee's hair.
31. I would pay a lot of money to have my hot body back.... the muscular one I had in high school. I'm not willing to work hard enough to get it back on my own.
32. I don't have a good fashion sense.
33. I don't like trying on clothes. I used to have my sister do that for me when we shopped together.
34. I'm really glad I have a sister.
35. I miss the old Saginaw, the way it was when I was growing up.
36. I don't want to live in Texas forever....there's no winter. Winter is my favorite.
37. I wear pajama pants to bed every night....and socks.....and I tuck my pants into my socks....sexy.
38. I love the feeling of holding Riley on my chest and snuggling Mckenzee in her bed. I love it when she says "Momma, snu--le me"
39. I love to sniff scotch tape and post its.
40. I am not an animal lover, but think all animals deserve to be loved.
41. I love to eat.
42. I'm going to start hula hooping.
43. I love to play games. I love to win. I'm like my dad.
44. I'm proud of my parents.
45. I like riding in the car, but hate to drive.
46. I think that's enough for now. If you made it through this, go you!

47. Oh, and a messy house makes me grouchy, but I can't seem to keep it clean.

The day he came...part 3 and done

Mckenzee came into the room smiling. Chris helped her wash her hands and sat her on the bed next to me. She said baby and was interested in touching my finger pulse checker and she patted him, but she said she didn't want to hold him. We gave her her big sister gift...a heart locket charm on a bracelet. She liked it.

Then, she and Chris went and got my Mom and Dad and sister who had been waiting during the surgery. They all had a chance to hold him. Everyone thought he looked like Chris.

I got moved from recovery pretty quickly and they took him to be checked and called when he was going to get his bath. Everyone went to watch. Chris videotaped for me. The rest of the day was quiet. I was so glad when I finally go to have him back. I enjoyed holding him on my chest and rubbing his soft skin. Chris and I had a very relaxing day together. His mom visited around 8:00 that evening.

The hospital stay was nice and if I hadn't missed Mckenzee so much I would have stayed another day. I loved having the next week to hang out together at home as a new family. Chris and I just held Riley and played with Mckenzee and he took care of me. It was such a quiet week and a special time for all of us.

Riley was a sweetie that first week. He waited until Daddy went back to work to turn on the hard stuff.

:)

Family Picture